Press



j -E606725 A. R. vBOAL ET AL i PRESS v original Filed Feb. 24. 1920 s sneets sheet l Nav. 9, 1926. 1,606,729

. A.R.BOALETAL PRESS Original Filed Feb. 24. 1920 5 sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 9, 1926. ,606,729

- A. R. Bom. E; A1.

mms v Orgilal Filedv Seb. 24. 1920 3 sheets-sheet 3 ZW N raeaaa Nov. e, 192e.

PATENT ARTHUR y2R.. BOAL AND CHARLES OBRIEN, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y.

PRESS.

Application Ied February 24. 1920, Serial No. 360,917. Renewed April 7, 1926.

This invention relates to. presses, and particularly to a press forY compacting and moldying relatively soft material.

The object of our invention is to provide a press adapted to compact and mold a charge of soft material, which may be in lump form, eject the molded charge and reset itself automatically in readiness for a succeeding charge.

A further object is to provide press feeding means in which a plurality of separate lumps of soft material may be placed, and

. which is adapted'to feed the lumps one by one to the press at the proper time.

The manipulation of soft material, particularly When of an adherent or sticky nature, involves peculiar requirements which render an ordinary press unsuitable for use there` with. Such material tends to ooze through the cracks and over the edges of thek parts, and to gather on moving surfaces, rapidly clogging the machine. The process of compression also tends to cause the material to adhere to the Walls of the mold, rendering rapid and clean ejection of the charge therefrom very difficult.

When handling sticky materia-ls, it is com mon to employ a surfacing substance, usually in the form of powder, to prevent adhesion. rlhis is particularly used in connection with edible materials, 'certain kinds of which are usually surfaced with a line powder. Materials treated in this Wayrequire careful manipulation, especially in machines, as any pressure sufficient to break through the light surface coating is certain to cause the material to adhere to the penetrating element.

Furthermore, friction tends to rub oilv the surface and expose the sticky material. Consequently, sliding conveyors or .ejecting means are highly objectionable with .this class of material.

We have devised a press adapted to avoid these difficulties, and lwhich is both simple and strong in construction, and rapid in operation. Y

We have also provided a novel type of mold, so constructed that the molded charge is ejected Without the use ofl a plunger or similar element. The ejecting mechanism is consequently peculiarly adapted to handle charges of stickymaterial, as such charges tend to adhere to an ejecting kplunger after clearing the mold. Furthermore7 the elimi nation of the plunger substantiallyV simplifies the construction of the machine.

A further object of our construction is the provision of a mold composed of a plurality of parts, adapted to be held firmly in closed position during the compressing of the material, and opened thereafter inlsucha Way that adherence of thecharge to the major portion of the mold Walls is necessarily broken,` the movement of said Walls tending to eject the charge automatically.

7e have also constructed allthe parts of the mold so that material oozing through cracks therein will lodge in cavities in the parts, the subsequent movements of Which tend to dislodge said material, especially after repeated operations have caused it to accumulate. f

Our press is also constructed to accommodate charges varying in size, and to exert the same pressure thereon, regardless of the ,size thereof.

Another object of our invention is to arrange the parts of the press so that they are readily accessible for cleaning7 the portions in which material may accumulate being readily accessible, thus minimizing any delay caused by stoppage of the press. The main operating parts are alsoA readily and rapidly removable and replaceable.

'We have also provid-ed improved means for feeding a succession of charges to the machine. hile various means may be used for this purpose,the one shown is adapted to yfeed a .succession oflumps of material,

generally similarin size. In feeding charges` of this nature, it is essential that they should not be subjected to substantial pressure, as

Vsuch a condition would cause them to adhere to each other andt'o the mechanism. It is likewise necessary to present them in rapid succession to the press in order Ito permit high capacity of production. We have provided a feeding means Which combines speed of delivery with the absence of substantial pressure ony the lumps or charges; audpreferably one that is automatically operated by the press to deliver the successive charges at the right moment.

While our invention includes improvein a novel manner.

One difficulty with presses. ,working on soft material is the deformation'of theA formed charges by air trapped in the mold during the pressing operation, owing to the tight fittingfofthe parts'. An object of our,

invention is to avoid this difficulty by providing meaiiisfor permitting'- the escape of Vtrapped air during pressing to insure rapid and perfect molding.l We also prevent charge distortion due to suction during the retraction of the pressing plunger from the mold, by providing means for permitting ingress of air beneath the plunger.

Furtherniore, while a single press and feeding means'therefor have been disclosed, it will be apparent that our'invention is equally applicable toa gang press having a plurality of similar press units which may be separately operated or actuated in comjinon by mechanism similar to that disclosed, and whichV may be fed simultaneously in any desired way. Y

Further objects and advantages of our i11- vention will be apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the ac companying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, i

Fig. -2 is :a detailfvertical sectional view through the press, .showing the parts in pressing position, y

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2,showing the parts in eject-ingv posit-ion, i

Fig. l is a plan view, parts Vbeing broken away, f

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary top plan view of the mold,

Fig. 6is a fragmentary front View of the press in closed position, parts being broken away,

Fig. 7 is a detail of one form of gate employed in the feeding means, and

vFig. 8 .is a top planviewfofa'portion of thefeeding means, showing' 'an alternative form` of gate.

The moldv is carried by a slide block 10 mounted to reciprocate on base 11,A as by forming a pair of parallel rguide walls 12, the inner faces of which incliide ways for the block. 10. Means is provided for retaining the blockin proper engagement vwith the ways, a pair of retaining plates or gibs 13 being disclosed, mounted on the top of guide walls 12.

The inoldl'employed is of the sectional type, including a plurality of wall elements which are positively held in closed position to form a vertical sided mold with a closed bottom in which the'inaterial is placed, lav

mold .and compacting the material, The mold is then thrown open by separating the wall segments, this operation preferably being performed so rapidly that the charge is forcibly ejected. The wall segments then close, and the operation is repeated.

lt will be apparent that various means for 'opening and closing the mold sections may be employed. In the preferred form the mold includes a back wall 14 and'side walls hinged to the back wall as at 16, the inner faces of the side and back walls forming Athe sides ofthe mold, which is disclosed as cylindrical in forni though, obviously,other contours may be employed. rflee back wall 14 is connected to slide block 10 and, if desired, may constitute the forward part thereof. Y

Means is provided for retainingthe side walls 15 in closedposition during the compressing operation, and then throwing them sharply outward, preferably projecting the .Y

back wall forward at the saine time, so as 'to forcibly eject the charge.A The reti'actioii of the back wall 111 and the simultaneous closing ofthe side walls returnthe moldto closedposition, shown in Fig. 2.

It will be apparent that the moldmay be operated upon a iXed base, the forward ejecting movement tending to throw the charge forward off ofthe base; but it is preferable to us'ea bottom plate 17 hingedto the back wall 111, as at 18, and adapted to di'op away from the side walls of the mold of mechanism may be providedfor `this Y pose', the one disclosed being Voperated by the forward movement of' the mold froii'i the position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 3.. Vhen the o peningfof the mold isv Vproduced by sucha forward shift, the side lio walls 15 are preferably spread by means car rid by said walls and engaging'fixed portions on the-frame of the machine, adapted 'f `to throw the walls outward when the `mold is .shiftedforwarch andutogthrow themV inward into closed position upon the i'etrao tion of the mold. Various forin'sof mechanism may be provided for this purpose, the

one disclosed includinglinks Q0, pivoted at 21 to vthe side walls adj acenttheir forward ends, the opposite end ofeach link.V being provided with a slot 22, through. which a pivot stud 23 passes, the latter being `mount` ed on the frame of the machine and preferably removable to facilitate the removal of the sliding mold. If desired, links 20 may constitute the sole means for opening and closing the sides ofthe mold; but in the preferred form it is desirable to maintain the side walls in engagement with guide walls 12 until the mold has completed part of its forward ejecting movement, reaching a point at which the walls are cut away to permit the links to operate, this type of construction serving to open the mold with a jerk and facilitating Y the electing ofthe chargeY `With this type of construction it is necessary to have slot Q2 elongated in form, to permit forward movement of the mold for part of its travel before the links start their opening action.

Means is provided for dropping` the bottom plate 17 away from the mold body. lNhen the mold is opened by the forward shifting movement, this means may include a support for the bottom plate 17, adapted to retain it against the bottom of the mold when in closed position7 as in Figs 2, the support being cut away adjacent the forward end of the plate when in such position, so that the forward shift of the mold will permit the bottom plate to swing downwardly over the edge of the support. 1n the specific form disclosed, plate 17 is provided with a downwardly projecting lip 9A adjacent its forward end, bearing against an inclined supporting surface on the base of the machine, the forward shift of the mold carrying lip 211 down surface 25, and swinging bottom plate 17 downwardly, thus `tending to break any adhesion between table 19 and the charge, which would be compelled to suffer considerable distortion to follow the bottom plate 17. The axis of pivot 18 is ,preferr-,bly above the center of gii'avityof bottom plate 17, so that the sharp forward movement of the mold will tend-to throw said bottom plate away from the mold.

VJhile this is the preferred form of support for the plate, it is obvious that many other variations therein are possible, such as means carried by the base directly beneath the intermediate portion of bottom plate 17. It will, of course, be understoodV that means for separating side walls 15 and dropping bottom plate 17 are preferably so arranged that they either operate simultaneously, if desired, depressbottom plate 17 sl prior to the opening of side walls 15.

lt will be apparent that a compressed charge tending' to adhere to the walls and bottom of vthe mold must necessarily be separated from the major portion of the mold surface bythe mold opening process above out-lined` the sharp forward movement of the moldvand rthe relatively small area to which the charge may remain attached after the mold is opened combining to eject the charge in a particularly effective manner.

machine.

the jointsljictween side wallsI l5 and bari:

wall 14C, and similar cut-awayportions 27 in the n'ieetingl edges of the side walls Table 19 is, furthermore, so constructed that any vmaterial,forcing its way between said table and the lower edges of the mold walls will rest on the adjacent parts of bottom plate 17, where it may collect without interfering with the operation of the inachine, groovesi boingprovided, if desired, in the lower faces of the mold walls adjacent the edges of table 19, to permit accumulation of a substational quantity of material without affecting the operation of the It will likewise beapparent that the sharp outward throw of side walls 15 and the sudden drop of bottom plate 17 when the mold is opened will tend to throw ,out any snbstair tial accumulations of material in the cutaway portions, the machine thus tending' to automatically clean itself, reducing the possibility of clogging to a minimum.A l'

The walls of the vmold are substantially vertical, and a plunger 29 is provided, which is adapted to enter the top of themold after'a charge has'been placed therein, and compress and mold the charge, the plunger preferably rising' prior to the opening` of the mold. A standard. 30, mounted on the -base 11, carries a bearing 31 for plunger 29,

the bearing preferably being in two parts hinged to each other, as at 32, and detachably connected, as by thumb screw 33, permitting ready access to the plunger and bearing' for cleaning or replacement.

Plunger 29 is preferably.constructed to exert substantially the same pressure onk a charge, regardless of its size. One means for accomplishingthis purpose is disclosed, consisting of a plunger head 34 slidably mounted inthe lower end otl plungerfQQ and retained therein by a transverse pin 85, as shown best in Fig. k(l, the ends of the pin working in vertical slots 36 in the walls of plunger 29,y spring 37 tending to force the plunger head 34 downwardly under a relativel fixed ressure ermittinfr it' to adjust itself to charges of various sizes. The

lower end of plunger -head 34 is adapted to fit snugly within the-walls of the mold, and preferably is out away `adjacent itslower lll) lill) edge, as at 38, to provide a space in which portions of the material may gather without obstructing the operation of the press.

It will be apparent that the reciprocation of plunger 29 will tend to dislodge all such material, particularly after a considerable quantity has accumulated, without interfering with the continued operation of the inachine.

When chargeshof soft material are used, the necessity for a relatively close fit between the parts of the mold tends to cause the trapping of air beneath the descending plunger and consequent distortionV of the formed charge. Furthermore, theV retraction ofthe plunger tends to develop suction above 'the charge, which also may produce distortion thereof. Our construction is particularly adapted to avoid these difficulties by providing means for permitting the escape of trapped air during compression of the charge, and for facilitating the influx 'of air beneath the rising plunger to prevent the development of sufficient suction to distort the charge.

Toaccomplish this purpose, we provide apertures in spaced parts of the mold through which air can pass. These apertures are preferably provided by slightly spacing the contiguous edges of the mold parts. a very slight opening along the joints between such parts being sufficient to permit air passage without allowing any substantial part ofl the Vmaterial to escape. Any or all of the joints between the parts of our mold and the plunger head may be spaced in this manner, the specific construction disclosed being especially suited forthis purpose; for while such an arrangement necessarily in- Vcreasesthe opportunity 'for charge material to escape through the' joints, the cut-away portions at the rear of the joints are adapted to accommodate Vsuch material, and the motion of the press tends to eject such overflow during normal operation.

Furthermore, the joint between table 19 and the mold walls 14 and 15, thejoints between said walls, and the joint between said walls and plunger head 34,-are so distributed about the surface ofthe compressed charge that opportunity is offered for air entrapped .adjacent any partof the charge to escape through a convenient joint. Furthermore, when the plunger head 34 1s rising, air may pass therebeneath'not only through the joint y between said headand the mold walls, but

also through the vertical joints between adjacent mold wall sections, assuring a sufficient supply to prevent the development ofV an objectionable suction. It has been found that, byvr suitable proportioning of the parts,

, ythe material collecting inside the joints .will

`not interfere with the free p ass'ageof air therethrough. It; will be apparent that the provision of an air passage for this purpose greatly facilitates the rapid operation of the press, as the difficulty from the trapping of air and the development of suction beneath the plunger head Vis greatly increased as the speed of operation advances;

any desired 'means for operating the plunger and mold may be employed. In the formdisclosed a ro'ck lever 39 pivoted on' and which is mounted on shaft 42 rotating ein' a bearing in standard43, which is carried by the base of the machine. Block 10 carrying the mold is connected, as by link 44, to one end of a rock lever 45, pivoted on standard 30, the opposite end of the lever carrying a roller 46 engaging a cam slot in disk cam 47, which is also mounted `on, shaft 42.

Means is provided for rotating shaft 42, as by forming gear teeth 48 on the outer surface of disk cam 47, constituting said cam a drive pinion, connected to a source of power 49 by a suitable gear train which `pref erably includesa friction driving connection 50 to prevent breakage of partsV of the press in the presence of a serious ob struction.

lit will be apparent that the charges may be inserted in the press in any desired way, and while we have disclosed a specific feeding n'iechanisn'i, we do not desire to be lirnitJ ed thereto; nor do we desireto be limited tov means for feeding separate lumps of material to the press, vas the material may be fed iu other forms. j Y

in the preferred form of feed, we have disclosed an .inclined chute y51 preferablyV mounted on the frame of the machinev as by a bracket 52, the chute terminating just above the mold so that lumps of material will roll down the chute and into the mold by gravity. j j Means is provided for feeding the charge forming lumps one by one, preferably consisting of a gate, generally indicated at 53,

normally adapted to prevent the passage of lumps` from the chute into the mold. This gate may be of any desiredtype, two forms being shown. inthe construction disclosed in Figs. I to 7, the gate consists of a pair of oppositely disposed plates v54,'pivoted adjacent their lower ends and having jaws 55 extending into the chute from oppositeesi'des thereof through slots in the side walls.. JawsV 55 are preferably shaped to prevent shearing.v

into the lump'when the gate` is closed. lates 54 are connected for simultaneous operation, as by la pin andslot connection 56 between the plates below the pivots, .so that the outward or inward motion of either jaw will be duplicated by theo'ther jaw; and the jaws are normally held in closedV position in any desired way, as by a spring 57.

Means is preferably provided for auto-` matically opening and closing the gate at the proper time. This may be. of any desired form, but preferably consists of means, operated by the ejecting motion of the mol d, to release a charge after the mold has completed its ejecting process and has returned to closed position. One construction for accomplishing this result is disclosed, consisting of a trip plate 58 mounted on block 10 provided with a vertical check plate 59 and an outwardly bent trip arm 60, so arranged that the forward movement ofl block 10 will bring check plate 59 across the lower end of chute 51, and simultaneous ly therewith trip arm 6() will contact with an extension 61 on outer plate 54, opening the jaws and permitting a lump to passtherebetween into contact with check plate 59. Gate 53 is preferably spaced from theend. of the-chute by a distance approximately equal tothe average diameter of the lumps, and it will be apparent that with this construction gate 53 will be in the planeof contact between two lumps, and the return of the jaws 55 to normal position will not bring them into contact with a lump until the plate 59 has entirely receded from the endof the chute, permitting a chargeto `fall into the mold. This arrangement not only prevents any shearing or disfiguring of the lumps by. the gate, but alsoholds the lumps against the gate by the force of gravity only.

It is also desirable to provide means for disengaging the formed charge or otherv adherent matter from the lower face of plungerhead 38. Convenient means for vthis purpose consists of a front plate 62,v 1nounted on block 10 and preferably integralfwith the trip plate 58, the forward movement'of. the trip Vplate 58 carrying the front plate below the plunger and disengaging the charge or adherent material therefrom in case the plunger does not serve to free it from the charge. j

An alternative form ofy gate is disclosed in Fig. 8, consisting of a pair of side -.plates 54a lying parallel to and against the .walls of chute 51, pivoted thereto at one end and having their other ends Aformed Vin to in-l turned jaws 55a projecting into the chute through slots in the opposite sides thereof, the jaws being preferably formed similar to jaws 55. Plates 54C have extensions con.- nected beneath the chute by a pin and slot' connection 56a and are normally held in closed position by spring 57, the operation being similar to that of the form of gate shown in Fig. 7 Extension 61a is mounted on the outer jaw 55a and is engaged vby trip arm 6() in the manner above described...V

. lt is desirable to have the floor and possibly the walls of the chute 51 slotted,' as

at 63, (Fig. 8) to reduce the bearing surface and consequently the tendency yof the lumps to adhere tothe chute. c y

The operation of the machii'ie is briefly yas follows. A'

The charge forming rlumps ofy material are yplaced in chute L51 and roll into position against gate 53. rlhe machine is started, and block 10 is pushedforward by cam e7 and rock lever a5. Trip arm 60 opens the gate, yand the first charge rolls against check plate 59, thereturn of the mold to closed position, shown in Fig. 2, drawing the check plate away from the chute, and kpermitting thelump to fall into the mold, the remain ing lumps settlingagainst gate 53.r Plunger 29 is now depressed by the action of cam 41 through rocklever 39, the plunger head 34 contacting with the lump and pressing it into shape, the trapped air escaping through the moldl joints so as to permit rapid molding of the charge, any surplus material squeezing through the joints being accommodated in the cut-away portions. Plunger 29 then rises, they influx of air through the mold joints preventing the development of suction; and, if the material used is adhesive, its engagement with the walls. and bottom ofthe mold will permit the plunger head to ybreak away from the charge. vThemold is then forced forward,

bottomplate17 dropping away from the` charge and breaking the connection therewith. Walls 15 preferably remain in closed position until the mold is nearly clear of the frame, whereupon links 2O jerk the sideV walls sharply outward, breaking any engagement of the walls with the lump. jerk, together with the arrest of the forward motion of the back` moldwall 14;, will project the chargeforward out of engagement with the black wall and permit it to fall into a, receiving means.y During this ejecting motion, the succeeding charge has been dropped against check plate 59. The recedingmotion of the mold forcesthe sidewalls inward, either by action of linksQO or of they guide walls 12, or both; and bottom plate l17 is 'forcedupwardly byengagement of lip 24 .with the inclined surfacek 25 on the base, thus securely .and rmly closing the mold, into which the succeeding charge drops as soon as the mold has reached its retracted position. ,Y j

.It will bey'apparent that there is no delay in the operation .of the press, a formed charge being replaced by another as soon as. it is ejected, and being immediately pressed into shape.

Itwillk also beev'identV that the parts are easily and readily accessible for cleaning or replacement, the plungerbeing exposed by opening the split bearing 81. The mold, in the position l.shown in Fig. 3, is exposed for complete cleaning Vwithout any detach- This ment yof parts, andthe portion ot thev framework surrounding links 20,)is Vreadily eit- PQSed by removing Pins 23,' e dtachable *Y connection ot" link 44 permitting the" entire mold to be'slid ont ofthe machine. Con seqiiently, any collection of diist, foliar' e material or dressing `theregtcinv in the' moving parts'l of 'the inv laine can loe readily and chine idle :tor any'd length of time.

`lWe hare described aniachine particularly adapted for use with sott,stiol y material, and various details thereof which render it I especially suitable for such use an example of oni' inventionas sethforth'in: this specifil' cation. A

We claim: Y

l. In a' press, a lsectional mold, iiiclnding a central n ioldwall section lateralinold Wall sections, means Vfor compressing aA charge `While y the are in mol-ding posi-` tion, means for retaining` said sections 1n closed position to form a Imold cavity, I nearisl for shifting the cential`sectioii, and-means for simiiltaneoiislyL swinging;` the sections outwardly to free lthe 'charge trom the mold.

A2. In press, a carrying element, means for reciprocating said element betfiyeen,

'Dividing 'and eiitins- Positions e, Central mold section mountedion said' element, side Sections, Carried by Seid elnntfllifiifs fOli compressing' a Cha-rse While 'the Parts are in; molding position', means for. swinginglsai'd side sections from the center section;

when' the carrier element is :shifted toward' ejecting position, and means returning sind adres, t tlO lctiirn ot' the ymold to molding position-l nioyable sections, means for compressing clifargewhile the parts are inf-molding po r-` non, guides ery ministeriali@ new' in closed position during molding' of" the charge, man's'ftor shitting. movableV sections of the ymold yont of" engageinentfiyitli s'ai'd guides, and means oi"openiii`and'c 1osing l mold1 While ont of ,engagementngith the' o l the charge fi" theI mold.

4g-"1.1i ai) Se. fi0, ti .s .ll-Ilg 1f Cielfa'l SQCQOI'BIIYISQ- toltiliie'fline ofY reoiprocati'on,a,nd "l i tiene Iiiiabl oftwaidlr! frh the 'Central section, and link" means 'connected to said moldinounted "ii A lateral sections adapted to move said s ections outwardly during the movement oiftlie n iold from molding" to discharging position aiidfto' shift; said sections inwardly to closed position during the ret-urn ot the mold.

5,"Ii1 a (press, a reciprceatingmold, u swinging eifel therefor, means for retaining the'eiidfin closed position to torni a' mold Wall din-ing molding, and -nieans 'for siiniil-Q taneously shitting said/mold laterally and" siif'inging the endV away troni the mold to,

free the'ch'arge from the mold.

6'. In apress,a sectionalmold including' side 4Wallsec'tioiis and an end section torining a mold'cavity, and meanst'or swinging' a plurality ot-ftlie side wally sections and the end` section away t-rom thc mold cavity to free a charge trom engagement' with the mold.'

In a press, a reciprocating sectional niiold'inclnding a plurality of side sections andan end section, means for retaining said sectons-'inclosed relation to form a 'cavity in moldingposition, means torshiifting the mold troinfmolding to discharging position,

andmeans 4forshiiiting saidV sections away fronitheinold cavity prior -to vthe return ot' the mold to mol-ding position, so as tc tree aecharge from 'the mold. v 5 8. In press, a mold including` a side Wall portion, 'aiswinging` end, means for reciproeating vsaid' mold `between the molding' and discharging# positions, a lined siippcrt toi' said swinging end adapted to4 retain it inengageiinent iifith the side `Wall portion in moldingy position, and to release said' end When the mold is Vrecipi-ocated prior -to vits ret-urn to moldingposition so as tovrvperinit the "end to4 swing 'outward by permit discharge oi t'lie` charge: Y

9. Ina lpressfa sectional mold' incl/ridingl 4gravity vandV reciprocating carrier anda 4"lurali'ty ont sec-f tions liing'ed thereto, a guide membertor each ot saidsections adapted toVIretai-n them in closed relation during molding, means tions carried thereby to tree said sections from tl'ie gnide members, and incanstor thereafter moving each ot'sail sections outward'l'yto freetli charge from the mold.

10. Ina press, a sectional mold including a p'lnn `1 o t form a mold ncavity"when `in closed position,

' 110 for shifting said carrier and -tliefmold secityot'swiiigiiig sections adapted 4to fixed supports engaging each of 'said sections tofiriairitai-nitin"l closed position during thecompressingl ot'- the' charge, means for shi ftin'g'tlie meid to freea'pinrality of sections from said fixed supports, and ineaiis toi" thereafter inging-said sections :outwardly tofitee the c arge Vtroni the mold."`

11"l I ai 'rte-ip eating carrier, 'a ,steamy of ,the iiXed position'V on said carrier,latei In" d'sectionsliingedly` conne'ctecii t 'the' carrier, Van end mold` section l 125 pr`s`s,"-a sectional mold including hingedly connected to the carrier, means for retaining' the sections `in closed relation, means for shifting the mold sections out of engagement with the retaining means so as to permit the end section to drop away from the mold by gravity, and means for swinging the lateral sections outwardly to free the charge from the mold.

12. In a press, a reciprocating mold adapted to be shifted from molding to discharging position, and means for feeding successive charges to the mold including means connected to the mold operated by the shift thereof into n'iolding Aposition to actuate said feeding means so as to feed a charge to themold.

13. In a press, a mold, means for reciprocating said mold between molding and discharging positions, means for feeding successive charges to the mold, including means, actuated during the shift of the mold to discharging position, to feed ak single charge into position adjacent the mold, and means, operated by the. return of the mold to molding position, to feed said charge into the mold.

14. In a press, a reciprocating mold, a feed chute for feeding successive separate individual charges of plastic material to the mold, a gate in said chute, and means, connected to the mold and operative during the reciprocation thereof, to open the gate and feed a charge to the mold.

15. In a press, a mold, means for reciprocating the mold between molding and discharging positions, a feed chute having an end adjacent the mold, a gate in said chute, means connected to the mold and operative during the forward motion of the mold toward discharging position, to open the gate and close the end of the chute, feeding a charge past the gate, and also operative during return of the mold to close the gate and open the end of the chute to permit said charge to enter the mold.

16. In a press, a sectional mold having a permanently open end, a reciprocating plunger adapted to enter said end and compress a charge, means for shifting said mold laterally to discharging position, and means for swinging the sections of the mold outwardly to free the charge from the mold prior to lits return to charge-compressing position.

17. In a press, a sectional mold khaving a permanently open end, a reciprocating plunger adapted to enter said end and compress a charge, a swinging bottom section adapted to close the opposite end of the mold, a xed support for maintaining' the bottom section in closed position during compression of the charge, and means for thereafter shifting said mold and bottom laterally out of engagement with the fixed support .to permit the bottom to swing into open ponently open end, a reciprocating plunger adapted to enter said end and compress a charge in the mold, Vmeans for shifting the mold laterally to eject the compressed charge, and means mounted onsaid mold and operate'd by the shift of the mold to free said plunger from adherent material. n

20. In `a press, a mold including a. plurality of movable sections forming a central cavity, the portions of said sections outside of and immediately adjacentthe joints between sections being cut away to provide pockets for the receptionof material forced through said joints.

21. In a press, a mold including a plurality of relatively movable sections having abutting inner faces composing continuous side walls of the mold, said sections being cut away along their abutting faces iinmediately adjacent the said side walls to provide pockets for the reception of material forced between said edges, and an end section coinciding exactly with the edges of the sidewalls at one end and spaced from said walls except at said edges, providing a space adjacent the mold cavity formed by the side walls and end into which material squeezed through the junction between the side walls and end may be received.

22. In a press, a mold having a molding cavity with a tubular opening, a plunger closely fitting said opening and adapted to slide inwardly therein to mold a charge in said cavity, said moldvbeing provided with apertures to permit the escape of air from the cavity during the inward movement of the plunger.

23. In a press, a mold having a molding cavity with a tubular opening, a plunger closely fitting said opening and adapted to slide inwardly therein to mold a charge in said cavity and outwardly to release the charge, said mold being provided with aper tures to permit the ingress of air beneath the plunger during its outward vmovement to prevent the formation of a charge-deforming vacuum.

24. In a press, a mold comprised of a plurality of relatively movable sections forming a molding cavity with a ,tubular opening, a plunger closely fitting said opening and to slide inwardly therein to mold a charge in the cavity, and outwardly to release theV charge, saidmold being provided with apertures at the joints of the sections to permit the ingress oi air beneath the plunger yduring its outward movement, to prevent the formation of a charge-deforming vacuum.

26. In a press, a mold having a tubulaiinolding cavity closed at one end, a plunger closely fitting said cavity and adapted to slide inwardly therein from the other end to inolda charge,'said mold being provided with a plurality of longitudinal apertures in the walls `of the cavity adapted to permit the escape of lair therefrom during the inward movement of the plunger.

27. In a press, a mold having aA tubular molding cavity, a wallclosing one end of said cavity, a plunger closely `fittingk the cavity and adapted to slide inwardly from one end thereof to compress a charge, and a wall.

at the opposite end closing said cavity7 ap* ertures being provided between said cavity and end wall to permit the escape of air i'ioin the cavity during the inward mover ment of the plunger. A

28. ln a press, a mold comprised of a plu# rality ofrelatively movable sections adapted to form a molding cavity, and ineansfor compressing a charge in said cavity, the abutting edges of said members being suIiciently spaced to permit theair to pass read-V ily therebetween, and said mold being pro-l vided with recesses coniinunicatingwith the space between said abutting edges andr with the outer air, to permit the ready flow of. air between the edges.

Signed at New York cityin the county of New York and State of New York 'this 20 day of February A. D. 1920.

ARTHUR R. BOAL. CHARLES OBRIEN; 

